Middle East Conflict Supply Chain Disruption: What You Need to Know

As of mid-March 2026, the regional conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is creating significant disruption risk and reducing capacity in maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints.

While “closure” may overstate the situation (traffic has not ceased entirely), the combination of security risks, carrier suspensions, and insurance constraints (APL Logistics) has effectively reduced commercial shipping to a fraction of normal levels.

For the book industry—deeply reliant on long-distance ocean freight between Asian printers and Western markets—the consequences are immediate and material.

What’s Changed—and Why It Matters

Ocean carriers have rerouted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding roughly 10–14 days and higher costs to Asia–Europe and Asia–U.S. transit lanes (Carra Globe). War-risk insurance has been withdrawn or repriced, with new surcharges applied to freight contracts (Reuters).

Woodland Group, a supply chain and logistics partner serving the print and publishing industries, has been notified by insurers that War, Strikes, Riots and Civil Commotion (WSR&CC) cover will be withdrawn for cargo shipments travelling to, from, or within certain Middle Eastern regions. The amendment, effective from 17 March 2026, applies to shipments involving Iran, the Persian/Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

Sue Kelly, Operations Director at Publiship, has reported additional issues affecting book shippers via Book Industry Communication (BIC):

• Airfreight capacity from Asia to Europe is down 40%, which may affect advance shipments.
• War-risk surcharges are currently quoted at $75–160 per cubic metre depending on the carrier.
• Dubai ports remain operational but most services are suspended; alternative routings through Jeddah or overland are limited.
• Suez Canal services are largely suspended, with some carriers beginning limited transits.
• Ripple effects across global ports, including congestion at Singapore and Colombo, are creating schedule unreliability and port omissions.
• Emergency surcharges for containers range from $1,800 per 20’ to $3,000 per 40’, with additional Emergency Bunker Surcharges of $400–500 per 40’ container.

The Real Risk: Loss of Predictability

Delays are visible, but uncertainty is the operational problem. Vessels are rerouting mid-journey, containers are being offloaded at alternate ports, and hundreds of ships are effectively stranded or repositioning. This instability disrupts publishing workflows: print schedules, pub dates, and retail resets all depend on reliable timing—not just eventual delivery.

Cost Pressure is Broader Than Freight

Oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel (MarketWatch), affecting not just transportation but key production inputs:

• Inks, adhesives, and coatings become more expensive
• Manufacturing and distribution costs rise globally
• Air freight, often considered a fallback, is constrained and increasingly costly

For additional context, see coverage from the International Energy Agency and The Guardian.

Operational Focus for Book Supply Chains

This is a moment for operational triage. Focus on:

• Time buffers: Historical transit assumptions are no longer valid
• Title prioritization: Not every book can absorb premium freight or delays
• Print flexibility: Short-run or regional alternatives may outperform offshore scale

Immediate steps you can take:

• Reconfirm transit assumptions with your freight forwarder
• Identify top priority titles for expedited routing
• Review print deadlines against revised transit timelines

Woodland Group, Publiship, and other carriers are providing real-time operational updates, so maintaining close contact with your forwarder is essential to navigate fluid conditions.

The Bigger Question for Publishing

This is the third major shock to global book supply chains in five years. Each time, the same structural weakness emerges: the book publishing industry is optimized for cost, not communication or agility.

This type of disruption underscores the gap BISG’s Book Publishing Next initiative is designed to address. This initiative highlights how modernizing supply chain communications—sharing real-time data across publishers, printers, distributors, and retailers—can be as critical as decisions about print location or freight strategy. In moments like this, competitive advantage isn’t just about capacity—it’s about visibility, coordination, and responsiveness.

The question for the industry is urgent: What would it take for our supply chains to be not just global—but truly responsive?

For questions or to continue the conversation, we encourage you to reach out to BISG directly.

BISG members work collaboratively to improve industry standards, communication, and supply chain resilience.

You can participate by joining BISG’s Book Publishing Next Working Group, where industry professionals are actively addressing challenges like supply chain disruption and building a more responsive future for publishing. We welcome your participation.